About Us

Founded in 1989, SHUOSHA (Shoshi Shūōsha) is an antiquarian bookshop dealing in used and rare books across a wide range of fields — Mingei (Japanese folk crafts), art, photography books, and literature. We also republish out-of-print books connected to the city of Matsumoto, including the writings of Taro Maruyama, a central figure in the Matsumoto Mingei movement who founded the Matsumoto Folk Craft Museum (Matsumoto Mingeikan) in Satoyamabe, Matsumoto.

Our owner, Takao Yanagisawa, grew up surrounded by Mingei. In the 1940s, his parents ran a woodworking studio and took part in the Matsumoto Mingei movement, and he witnessed firsthand the work of Soetsu Yanagi, Shoji Hamada, Bernard Leach, and Taro Maruyama during their years in Matsumoto.

His daughter, Akiwo, studied photography at an art university and hopes to share the beauty of Japanese photographic culture with as many people as possible.

Our online store focuses especially on these two fields — Mingei and photography.

We would be delighted to help you discover a book that feels truly special to you. We hope you enjoy your visit.